akarta is saturated with coffee shops where people can hang out or simply sit and work for hours with a cup of Java (or Gayo, take your pick). However, the first half of 2017 saw a new trend emerging.
Tiny coffee shops offering locally sourced coffee began mushrooming across the city. These shops don’t have many, if any, places to sit, and they don’t offer WiFi.
With reduced operational costs, the coffee is more affordable than the coffee at more established coffee shops. Just as online ride-hailing apps dominate the streets, a cup of coffee is only one click away.
Here are several places where you can get your coffee, takeaway or delivered directly to your door:
Tuku is arguably the hippest joint in Jakarta's coffee scene.
The little joint first opened in Cipete with its specialty es kopi susu tetangga (neighbor's iced milk coffee) for Rp 18,000 (US$1.35) per cup. Their signature brew is simple coffee with milk and brown sugar, although other variants of coffee are also available.
After moving from Ruci's Joint to Pasar Santa, Tuku is available to fans in Central and South Jakarta. Some people are willing to wait for hours for their iced coffee to be delivered.
Tuku has been flat-out ever since President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and his family visited the Cipete branch, sparking curiosity from netizens who haven't yet tried the es kopi susu tetangga.
Where: Jl. Cipete Raya Blok B No.7, Cilandak, South Jakarta
Di Bawah Tangga
Literally meaning “below the stairs”, this cafe is aptly named since it is located just below the stairs on the north lobby of Gandaria City Mall. With strategic outdoor seating, it is the perfect place to get your caffeine fix before rushing to another place.
Owned by actor-cum-businessman Nino Fernandez, the place has two specialties: es kopi susu kampung (village iced milk coffee) and es kopi susu kota (city iced milk coffee), the latter being stronger.
Forget fancy cakes while you're here, as the place offers an assortment of traditional Indonesian snacks instead.
Where: Gandaria City, Jl. Sultan Iskandar Muda No. 22-23, Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta
Read also: Three cups of coffee a day keep the doctor away: Studies
Kopi Sana offers its own variant of iced coffee, aimed at health-conscious drinkers. It has low fat options and a choice of soy milk or almond milk.
Located in the newly renovated Sana House, Kopi Sana shares a home with Sana Studio, which offers zumba, pilates and boxing classes.
Where: Jl. Panglima Polim V No.38, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta
Drinklah
People may be more familiar with Drinklah’s sister company Eatlah, whose specialty is ricebox with chicken and dory with salted egg sauce.
Following the trend in iced coffee, Drinklah was introduced in late May with its specialty Kopilah.
Where: Jl. Cipete Raya No. 55, Cilandak, South Jakarta
Read also: Five coffee shops to spend the rainy season in
Sagaleh
In the Minang language, galeh means glass or cup, hence the name kopi sagaleh (a cup of coffee).
Priced at Rp 15,000, Sagaleh is the most affordable coffee on our list. The unique and strong taste comes from eight different local coffee beans used to make the sagaleh blend, manually brewed with a mokapot. The coffee is only available for takeaway or delivery.
Where: Gandaria Utara, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta
Bersahaja
This coffee can be found at the Roti Eneng bakery, which offers a modern take on the classic toasts that Indonesians love for late-night snacks.
There are two variants of iced coffee, regular iced coffee and iced mocha coffee.
Enjoy your coffee with warm, homemade bread from Roti Eneng, which counts former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama as a fan. (kes)
Where: Jl. Gandaria Tengah IV No. 19, Gandaria, South Jakarta
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